Azubike Collins Mgbame: Redefining Access to Data for Small Businesses in the Digital Age

In an increasingly data-driven global economy, where algorithms dictate marketing decisions, artificial intelligence refines logistics chains, and predictive models determine creditworthiness, one group remains strikingly underserved: the world’s micro and small enterprises.

Azubike Collins Mgbame

Despite accounting for the vast majority of businesses globally, MSEs are routinely excluded from the analytics revolution that has reshaped modern commerce. For researcher Azubike Collins Mgbame, this exclusion is not a mere oversight. It is a structural failing with profound economic, social, and moral implications. And he is determined to address it.

His landmark study, Data Democratization: Making Advanced Analytics Accessible for Micro and Small Enterprises, is not only a deeply researched academic analysis but a global call to action. It reframes data not as a technological luxury for the elite but as a practical, actionable necessity for all businesses. From remote farming cooperatives in Uganda to informal retail stalls in Nigeria and artisan workshops in rural Kentucky, Mgbame argues that democratizing data access is one of the most powerful steps policymakers and technologists can take to promote inclusive growth.

“We cannot build a fair economy when data is monopolized by the top five percent,” Mgbame says plainly. “If information is the new oil, then it should not only fuel billion-dollar companies. It should also power the mechanic’s shop in Abeokuta, the coffee vendor in Guatemala, and the dressmaker in Mississippi.”

What makes Mgbame’s research so impactful is the way it moves beyond complaint into design. His paper outlines a coherent framework that identifies the core obstacles faced by MSEs: lack of infrastructure, poor digital literacy, high costs, and a dearth of relevant tools. He then proposes interventions across four dimensions—technology, education, finance, and policy—to systematically dismantle those barriers. It is a holistic vision that has already begun to influence digital inclusion initiatives in both the public and private sectors.

One of the central insights of the study is the transformative potential of cloud-based analytics and no-code platforms. By shifting data processing to scalable cloud environments and allowing users to build tools without needing to code, Mgbame sees an opportunity to leapfrog traditional limitations.

“We don’t need every business owner to become a programmer,” he explains. “We need them to be able to answer the questions they care about. What products are selling? When do sales peak? Where are losses happening? That’s what democratization means—tools that speak the language of the business, not just the language of the engineer.”

His paper draws on a wide range of global case studies that illustrate this point. In Kenya, smallholder farmers using mobile apps to receive market price updates and weather alerts saw significant improvements in profit and efficiency. In India, fintech startups like Khatabook and Razorpay are using digital transaction data to build alternative credit scores for small businesses that would otherwise be denied access to formal lending. In Latin America, platforms like Mercado Libre provide real-time analytics to thousands of micro-retailers, allowing them to optimize pricing, product offerings, and customer engagement.

“These are not anomalies,” Mgbame insists. “They are blueprints. They show us what’s possible when the right infrastructure, training, and incentives are in place. And they reinforce the point that the digital divide is not a matter of capacity—it is a matter of access.”

But while the paper celebrates success stories, it does not gloss over persistent challenges. Mgbame is forthright in identifying cultural, structural, and institutional obstacles that often hinder adoption. One such barrier is skepticism toward technology, especially in communities where previous digital interventions have failed or where technological tools have seemed misaligned with local realities.

“That mistrust is earned,” he says. “People have been promised innovation and delivered complexity. We cannot expect blind adoption. We must engage communities with humility, listen to their concerns, and build alongside them.”

For this reason, Mgbame places strong emphasis on training and capacity building. But here again, he cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach. “Digital literacy is not just about knowing how to use Excel,” he explains. “It’s about understanding how to frame questions, interpret trends, and make decisions. It’s about building confidence in the process of analysis.”

To address this, the study advocates for localized training programs that are linguistically and culturally adapted. It also proposes the establishment of SME innovation hubs, where business owners can experiment with tools, share knowledge with peers, and receive mentorship from digital experts. These centers, he argues, should be funded through public-private partnerships and strategically placed in underserved regions.

Infrastructure, of course, remains a central issue. Many MSEs still operate in areas with poor internet connectivity, unreliable electricity, and little access to affordable devices. Here, Mgbame urges governments to step up.

“If we’re serious about inclusion, we must treat digital infrastructure the way we treat roads, bridges, and electricity,” he says. “It’s not optional. It’s foundational.”

He proposes a combination of policy incentives, public investment, and partnerships with telecommunications companies to expand broadband access in rural and peri-urban areas. He also recommends that development finance institutions prioritize digital infrastructure in their project portfolios and offer grants or low-interest loans for MSE digital transformation.

Equally important is the need for supportive financial products. Many MSEs hesitate to invest in digital tools due to thin margins and uncertain returns. To address this, Mgbame advocates for tailored micro-financing options and fintech products that specifically target digital adoption.

“We need to stop seeing digital transformation as a cost,” he says. “It’s an investment in survival. And in many cases, it’s the difference between staying afloat or shutting down.”

Perhaps most compelling is Mgbame’s argument for policy reform. He calls on national governments to develop cohesive data inclusion strategies—policies that promote fair data governance, subsidize digital tools for small businesses, protect user privacy, and establish interoperability standards. He also urges international organizations to include data democratization in their sustainable development metrics.

“Digital exclusion is economic exclusion,” he says. “And when we fail to include small businesses in the digital economy, we are choosing to limit growth, suppress innovation, and perpetuate inequality.”

The global implications are enormous. According to the World Bank, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises account for more than 50 percent of employment worldwide and up to 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies. If even a fraction of these businesses were empowered to make data-driven decisions, the ripple effect could transform entire industries, supply chains, and communities.

In times of crisis, the importance of that empowerment becomes even clearer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MSEs were disproportionately affected by lockdowns and supply disruptions. Those that had access to digital tools—online ordering platforms, contactless payment systems, inventory tracking dashboards—were far more likely to survive or pivot successfully.

Mgbame believes that data democratization is not just about preparation for the next crisis. It is about positioning small businesses as active participants in global value chains. “Imagine a garment maker in Lagos using sales data to forecast demand, source materials more efficiently, and pitch directly to global buyers,” he says. “That’s not a dream. That’s tomorrow—if we act today.”

He also warns of the risks of failing to act. As artificial intelligence and automation advance, the gap between digital haves and have-nots is set to widen. If small businesses are not brought into the data economy now, they may be permanently left behind.

“AI is trained on data,” he notes. “If your business isn’t generating or using data, you are not just invisible—you are irrelevant in the eyes of future systems. That’s a dangerous place to be.”

Despite the urgency, Mgbame remains hopeful. His study concludes with a practical framework for implementing inclusive analytics programs at scale. It includes metrics for measuring adoption, effectiveness, and impact. It stresses the importance of feedback loops and continuous improvement. And it calls for a global coalition—researchers, policymakers, technologists, business owners, and civil society—to work together toward a shared vision.
“This is not the work of one ministry or one company,” he says. “It’s a collective project. If we get it right, we won’t just be building better businesses. We’ll be building fairer societies.”
In a world where data is often hoarded, monetized, and weaponized, Azubike Collins Mgbame’s work is a refreshing reminder of its democratic potential. His research does not glamorize technology. It humanizes it. And it asks a simple question: what would happen if every entrepreneur—no matter how small—had access to the insights they needed to grow?
The answer, it turns out, could reshape the global economy. And Mgbame is helping lead the way.